Why Big Indian Pinball Still Rocks Today
0🕹 Game Name: Big Indian
📛 Alternate Names: N/A
📅 Release Date: October 1974
🔫 Genre: Arcade Pinball
👨 🏻 💻 Developers: Gottlieb
👨 🏻 💻 Publishers: D. Gottlieb & Co.
🔢 Max Players: 1
⁉ Cooperative: No
🕹 Game Introduction:
Big Indian is a 1970s electro-mechanical pinball machine themed around Native American imagery. With bold artwork and strategic gameplay centered on drop targets and lane precision, it became one of Gottlieb’s standout releases during the EM era.
🕹 Game Description:
Set against a wild and stylized Western backdrop, Big Indian offers a mix of color, character, and classic pinball layout. The game features four flippers, drop targets, rollover lanes, and a scoring system that rewards accuracy and timing.
🎴 Game Play:
👉 🏻 Hit the “Big Indian” target bank to light bonus multipliers.
👉 🏻 Shoot upper lanes to spell “I-N-D-I-A-N” for extra points.
👉 🏻 Use both lower and upper flippers for more shot control.
👉 🏻 Lighting side lanes adds progressive end-of-ball bonuses.
👉 🏻 Activate the kick-out hole to lock in ball save potential.
📕 Background & History:
Released in 1974, Big Indian arrived during Gottlieb’s prolific run of electro-mechanical hits. The machine was also produced as "Big Brave," a 2-player version with the same layout. Big Indian's standout backglass and gameplay made it a staple in arcades and bars alike.
🐣 Cheats, Tricks, Bugs, and Easter Eggs:
👉 🏻 Skilled players could nudge the table to redirect slow center drains.
👉 🏻 Drop target patterns can be exploited for rapid score gain when timed correctly.
👉 🏻 Soft plunge allows the player to target high-value top lanes directly.
🐱 💻 Hacks:
👉 🏻 LED conversions breathe new life into the table without affecting gameplay.
👉 🏻 Soundboard upgrades available for EM to digital bell enhancements.
👉 🏻 Aftermarket flipper coils can improve response time and control.
🎉 Trivia:
👉 🏻 Big Indian was designed by Ed Krynski, one of Gottlieb’s legendary pinball minds.
👉 🏻 Over 3,500 units of Big Indian were produced—a large run for the era.
👉 🏻 It was one of the first games to integrate art and theme cohesively across cabinet, backglass, and playfield.
👓 Lonster's Review:
Big Indian is a pure nostalgia trip. The sound of real chimes, the feel of EM flippers, and that classic Gottlieb design? Magic. It’s challenging but fair, and the artwork still pops almost 50 years later. Old-school charm at its finest.
🌟 Legacy:
Big Indian has earned a respected spot in the pinball history books. It’s a favorite among EM collectors, and its mechanics have stood the test of time. For many, it represents the golden age of pinball’s early days.
✨ Cultural Impact:
The machine reflected a fascination with Native American themes common in 1970s pop culture. It became a recognizable fixture in bowling alleys and corner arcades throughout the decade.
💭 Lonster's Final Thoughts:
Big Indian is an arcade time capsule. It’s got grit, charm, and gameplay that demands skill without feeling punishing. A reminder that pinball was—and still is—all about the fundamentals.
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